Online Reporter
JASPRIT BUMRAH claimed his 16th five-wicket haul in just 51 Tests to push South Africa to a dismal 159 all out shortly after tea before India replied with 37-1 from 20 overs at the close of the first day of the first Test cricket at Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday.
The great fast bowler was in outstanding form throughout the innings with figures of 7-4-9-2 in the morning session before knocking over the tail to finish with 5-27 from 14 overs with five maidens.
There was little sign of the carnage to come when Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton added 57 for the first wicket after Temba Bavuma had won the toss and chosen to bat first on a pitch often occasionally uneven bounce but also appreciable turn for India’s four spinners. But the tourists lost all 10 wickets for the addition of just 102 runs once Bumrah had prized the innings open dismissing both openers in quick succession with magnificent deliveries.
Markram bore the brunt of Bumrah’s excellent opening overs and required 23 balls to get off the mark which he did with two sumptuous drivea against overpitched deliveries from Mohammad Siraj who offered early scoring opportunities in contrast to his new ball partner.
Rickelton (23) was bowled by a beauty which straightened from around the wicket to hit his off stump while Markram (31), who had driven five fours through the off side and clipped Axar Patel for six over midwicket, had no answer to Bumrah’s delivery which bounced steeply and nipped away to provide an edge for ‘keeper Rishabh Pant.
Captain Temba Bavuma (3) was also blameless with a tremendous leg-break from Kuldeep Yadav (14-1-36-2) fizzing off the inside edge of his defensive bat and into the hands of Dhruv Jurel well positioned at backward short leg. — supersport.com
